DISCLAIMER: The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients’ cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client’s case.
Matthew, a middle school student, was apprehended by the Palm Beach Police Department after he sent a message threatening to shoot someone who had been cyberbullying him via the social media platform, Snapchat. With assistance from the Rossen Law Firm and defense attorney David Tarras, Matthew was able to get his case dismissed, and his record sealed.
Although Matthew only wanted to scare off his bully and bring his harassment to an end, his message nonetheless amounted to a second-degree felony. In the State of Florida, the charge of making a written or electronic threat to kill or injure someone carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison, 15 years of probation, and $10,000 in fines for an adult. For someone as young as Matthew, however, the consequences of his actions meant possible time in a juvenile detention center, removal from his current school, and a record that could follow him for a lifetime.
After accepting what seemed to be a harmless friend request on Snapchat, Matthew quickly found himself receiving a barrage of insults meant to humiliate him over a crush that he had. The harassment continued electronically over the course of a month, and after reaching his wit’s end, Matthew made a comment that turned his life upside down. Soon after, Matthew was picked up and arrested by a Palm Beach police officer.
The best course of action given the circumstances of Matthew’s case was to undertake a “plea and pass” agreement (P&P). Through this specific plea deal, the defendant (Matthew) pleads guilty and agrees to meet specific requirements as outlined by the court. If the defendant meets these requirements, their felony case is dismissed. For Matthew and his family, this meant an avoidance of a prolonged trial and additional fees, and an ability to finally put the whole ordeal behind them. And finally, by sealing his record, (meaning that this charge would not show up on background checks), attorney David Tarras was also able to help Matthew achieve his best future in which he has no criminal record.
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